FSO Schwarz Magic Kit is a popular toy kit that is designed for kids who have an interest in magic tricks and illusions. It is named after the iconic American toy store, F.A.O Schwarz, which is known for its wide range of high-quality and unique toys. The FSO Schwarz Magic Kit includes a variety of props and accessories that allow kids to perform a range of different magic tricks. These include items such as playing cards, coins, ropes, and even a magic wand.
How Salem really became ‘Witch City’
These include items such as playing cards, coins, ropes, and even a magic wand. With these props, kids can learn and practice classic tricks like card tricks, coin tricks, and disappearing acts. The kit also comes with a detailed instruction booklet that provides step-by-step instructions for each trick.
Visit the the witch shop that launched the city’s reputation as a safe haven for spellcasters.
October 23, 2023 • Link copiedOnce named The Witch Shoppe, Crow Haven Corner is Salem’s oldest store of its kind.
As you stroll through Salem toting a sack of crystals and a grimoire tucked under your arm, you have one woman to thank for the bewitching experience the city is known for today: Laurie Cabot.
Dubbed “ the official witch of Salem ,” many local experts trace the city’s bubbling cauldron of Pagan and Wiccan cultures — not to mention a booming tourist industry that drew one million visitors in 2022 — back to Cabot.
Long before covens of visitors flocked to Salem every fall, Cabot was the first witch to stake her claim in Salem, opening one of the first — if not the first — witch shops in America at 100 Derby St. in the early 1970s. At The Witch Shoppe, she peddled items like bagged herbs. At the same time, national interest in witchcraft swelled, thanks to the TV series “Bewitched” filming in town.
The TV show and Cabot’s shop provided the perfect formula for sparking some Salem magic. After centuries of shying away from the tragic events constituting the local witch trials, the city leaned into its darker history to capitalize on the public’s newfound fascination with witchcraft.
Laurie Cabot in Salem in the 1970s.
Cabot eventually moved The Witch Shoppe to 125 Essex St., renaming it Crow Haven Corner . While Cabot no longer owns the shop — it now belongs to another prominent local witch named Lorelei — the unmistakable black and purple store still stands, stocking spell kits, books, tarot cards, and other enchanting essentials.
Here’s how you can interact with the oldest witch shop in Salem:
- Stop by any day from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. to browse the witchy wares
- Guests can book tarot + psychic readings in advance online or on-site
- Adventurous visitors can rent an on-theme AirBnB located above the shop
Bonus: Book a Salem Witch Walk tour, which takes you through the shop’s yard to participate in a traditional circle dance.
A peek inside the home of a Salem witch
Salem’s oldest witch shop, Crow Haven Corner, is a neatly kept black gambrel on Essex Street with flower boxes and a cheerful purple door. Laurie Cabot, declared Salem’s official witch by former governor Michael Dukakis, once ran the shop, but now Lorelei Stathopoulos, known as Salem’s “Famous Love Clairvoyant,” owns the business and lives on the upper two floors. She creates love potions, conducts readings for loyal followers and intrigued visitors, and serves as a “magical life coach.”
Flocks of tourists gather in front of Crow Haven for photos; the bottom floor is filled with shoppers browsing herbs, jewels, and candles with the help of Stathopoulos’s team of witches. An enchantingly sweet scent (lavender?) wafts through the air.
“The more you give love and light, the more you receive at the end of the night,” Stathopoulos says with a wink, heading upstairs. She’s a charismatic dynamo in heels and black-and-orange striped tights with a model’s figure, thanks to a vegan diet (for spiritual reasons) and an avid routine of sea-salt swimming. Her blonde hair has glints of purple and blue. Her mother was a witch and astrologer, she says, and she’s read tarot cards since age 10.
Her two Chihuahuas, Chico and Dolly, trail her up the narrow staircase and down a hallway lined with bright pink walls and flickering candles. Stathopoulos is also known throughout town as the founder of Salem Saves Animals, a nonprofit that raises awareness about abuse, and the dogs never leave her side. (She also three cats; two of them are black, of course.)
Her bedroom, a candlelit sanctuary with black-and-gold wallpaper and golden tasseled curtains, is the heart of her home. A mirror hangs in the doorway to deflect negative energy back into the universe. To the left is an altar flanked by two protective golden leopards.
The room glimmers. Homemade spell candles, a Crow Haven specialty, glow atop the altar. Each is magically charged with an intention like protection or love, she says. Here, they illuminate framed photographs of Stathopoulos’s family and reflect against another gold-rimmed mirror. The centerpiece is a shimmering blue urn that honors her late husband. A tall Lady Justice statue, scales in hand, anchors another corner for more protection. Amethysts, a gemstone believed to promote tranquillity, and smoky quartz, said to remove negative energy, line the floor.
Chico leaps onto the bed and settles atop a gold, pink, and black flower-patterned bedspread. (Unlike many of the beautiful objects here, this isn’t a Crow Haven original: “I got it from Neiman Marcus,” Stathopoulos says with a sassy laugh. She has a sense of humor.) Several multicolored glass witch balls, intended to ward off incorrect energy, dangle from the ceiling to encircle the bed. Stathopoulos sometimes offers phone readings from this regal perch.
Chihuahuas clipping her side, it’s back down the staircase to her busy shop — with a quick peek at the gold-ceilinged kitchen, where cauldrons simmer on the stove.
“Much love and light!” she calls as a customer heads back into the Essex Street bustle.
It’s nearly Halloween, but it feels like Valentine’s Day, too.
Iconic Witch Shop To Close In Salem, Mass.
Laurie Cabot opened the town's first Witch shop in 1970 and helped to make Salem a tourist destination. A few years later she was named the "Official Witch of Salem" by then Governor Michael Dukakis. While her brick-and-mortar store is closing, her online store will still offer broomsticks, cauldrons and more.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
And today's last word in business is: The spell is broken.
The town of Salem, Massachusetts, is known for its violent history of the Salem witch trials of the 17th century. But more than 40 years ago, an advocate and teacher of witchcraft helped to make it a tourist destination.
Laurie Cabot opened the town's first witch shop in 1970. A few years later, she was named the official witch of Salem by then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. Cabot's store was reborn under several names and locations over the years, but she has announced on her website that today will be the last day of business for the final incarnation of her brick-and-mortar witch store. Her online store will still be around, offering broomsticks, cauldrons, chalices and more.
And that's the business news on MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
And I'm Renee Montagne.
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This allows kids to learn and master each trick at their own pace. The instructions are written in a way that is easy for kids to understand, making the learning process enjoyable and engaging. One of the key features of the FSO Schwarz Magic Kit is that it focuses on teaching kids the principles behind the tricks, rather than just providing them with pre-packaged tricks to perform. This not only helps kids understand how the tricks work but also encourages them to think creatively and come up with their own variations and routines. FSO Schwarz Magic Kit is not only a fun and entertaining toy, but it also has many educational benefits. Learning and performing magic tricks can help kids develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It also helps improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Overall, the FSO Schwarz Magic Kit is a great toy for any child who has an interest in magic and wants to learn and perform their own tricks. With its wide range of props and detailed instructions, it provides a fun and educational experience for kids of all ages..
Reviews for "Master the Art of Magic with the FSO Schwarz Magic Kit"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I was really disappointed with the Fso schwarz magic kit. The tricks were not well explained and the props included were of poor quality. The tricks also didn't seem impressive or engaging. I wouldn't recommend this kit to anyone looking to learn and perform magic tricks.
2. Mike - 2 stars - The Fso schwarz magic kit was a letdown for me. The instructions were confusing and hard to follow, making it difficult to learn the tricks. The props included were flimsy and didn't look very professional. Overall, I found the whole experience underwhelming and not worth the money I paid for it.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I was excited to try out the Fso schwarz magic kit, but it turned out to be quite disappointing. The instructions were not clear and I struggled to understand how to perform the tricks. The included props were cheaply made and some even broke after just a few uses. I would advise against purchasing this magic kit if you're looking for a high-quality and enjoyable experience.
4. John - 1 star - I regret buying the Fso schwarz magic kit. The tricks were not mind-blowing and the instructions were confusing. The props included were cheaply made and it was clear that corners were cut in terms of quality. Save your money and look for a better magic kit if you're serious about learning magic tricks.